LAKE CHARLES, La. - (December 12, 2014) The Charpentier Historic District has now been brought to life with a self-guided, Smartphone application that highlights the rich history of the city as well as the carpenter-architects who created Lake Charles' unique style of architecture. The free app can be downloaded in your app store by searching "Lake Charles Historic Tour."

Without architects in the area until the early 1900s, the 40-block Charpentier Historic District reflects the personalities of the carpenters and builders who constructed the Victorian mansions that still stand today. The district, with its intricate woodwork and distinctive columns, is nationally recognized as having Lake Charles-style architecture on the National Register of Historic Places.

Some highlights of the tour include the Great Fire of 1910, Ghost Stories and Legends, and the history of Lake Charles.

Whether you drive or walk, this app with give you turn-by-turn directions. The application features 30 minute to 1 hour tours, videos, photos, as well as social media sharing capabilities. You can even create your own Charpentier Historic District virtual postcard to share.

The Lake Charles Historic District tour is available in multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, German and includes closed-captioned (in English) for those who are hearing challenged.

To see a video preview of the app go to, www.visitlakecharles.org/historic or for historical resources, visit www.calcasieupreservation.org.

ABOUT THE CHARPENTIER HISTORIC DISTRICTThe Historic Charpentier District is one of the finest collections of Victorian architecture in the state with structures dating from the late 1800s. Since there were no architects in evidence here until the early 1900s, the structures reflect the individual characteristics of the carpenters (charpentiers in French) and builders.

ABOUT BARZ ADVENTURES INCBarZ Adventures Inc, founded in 2005, is an Austin, TX based company combining experts in fields of computer delivery systems and interpretive content development. For more information about the BarZ product line of GPS-based tourism technology, visit www.barzadventures.com or call 512-732-0135.###